GAME REPORT

Lotos PKO BP Ride Strong Start To Top ZVVZ Prague

Lotos PKO BP Gdynia throttled ZVVZ USK Prague early on Thursday and rode the strong start to a 71-57 triumph for their second victory in a row.

The Polish giants are now 2-3 in Group C while Prague have fallen to 1-4.

Jacek Winnicki's team outscored Prague 23-11 to start the game and by half-time the home side had opened up an 18-point advantage.

Prague, playing again without center Sonja Kireta, managed to close the gap to 61-50 with 3:27 remaining on an Evi Maltsi lay-up.

That's when Lotos PKO BP delivered the knockout punch as Emilija Podrug hit a jump shot and Alana Beard buried a three-pointer for a 66-50 lead with less than two minutes remaining.

Ivana Matovic led the way with 18 points for Lotos PKO while Podrug weighed in with 10 and a game-high 10 rebounds.

Recent signing Monique Curry played 16 minutes and had two points for Lotos PKO.

Matovic made a jump shot and a lay-up and Belarus Olympian Natallia Marchanka followed with a three-pointer as Lotos PKO BP stormed out to an early 7-0 lead.

After a basket by Swin Cash for Prague's first points, Matovic sank another jump shot to restore the seven-point advantage.

A three-ball from Michaela Feranciková and a lay-up by Sandra Le Dréan cut the gap to 9-7, but that was as close as they would get the rest of the way.

Marchanka replied with her second three and Lotos PKO BP pulled away.

Feranciková had nine rebounds to go with her seven points for Prague.

COACH QUOTES

Quotes LOTOS PKO BP vs. ZVVZ USK Prague

Jacek Winnicki (coach Lotos PKO BP Gdynia):

"We played today a really good defense. We knew that defense is going to be a key to the victory. We also knew that Prague are not so strong under the basket because of Sonia Kireta's injury. So we could give the ball a lot to our centers. I am very happy because we play better and better every game and it is a good sign for the future. Next week we play at home against Ros Casares and it's gonna be a great chance for my team to get one back, because in Valencia we lost after a terrible game. I want to thank my girls for a good game and for their great work in defense."

Natalia Marchanka (Lotos PKO BP Gdynia):

"It was our best match this season. Our defense was perfect, especially in the first half when we conceded only 26 points. We controlled the game from the beginning. We were very determined because we had to win this game. Our situation is better after each game and next week we must beat Valencia. We will do all our best to do it."

Lubor Blazek (coach ZVVZ USK Praha):

"Our defence wasn't good today. It's hard to play without a center but Gdynia were much better today. Our situation is not good, we are last in our group after the first round. But I believe that we can win the next games, especially against our direct rivals like Gdynia, Union and Sibenik."